The North Review
Aug. 22nd, 2016 11:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluegargantuaHey,
Maybe don't let weeks go by without discussing what you've read.
In that vein, I'm going to talk about The North Water by Ian McGuire. This is a short, punchy book where the journey is worth more than the destination.
It's the mid-1800's and Patrick Sumner, disgraced British Army surgeon, has signed on to the Volunteer, a whaling vessel headed for the arctic. Also on board is Henry Drax, harpooner and sociopath. Pretty much everyone else on board has a secret or two and it's going to be a long, cold, voyage.
There's nothing extraordinary about the characters, dialoge, or plot, but the descriptive writing is so damn good. It's fun to read in your head, it's fun to say aloud, it's got mysterious new words to look up, it never slides into purple prose. It's just really good reading. It's not my usual thing, but I'm glad I picked it up. Plus, unlike most whaling novels I can think of, this one clips along and would make for great afternoon reading.
Fair warning, it's just a bunch of guys (mostly white) and there's a fair amount of (exquisitely described) violence, but if that doesn't bug you, it's worth a look.
later
Tom
Maybe don't let weeks go by without discussing what you've read.
In that vein, I'm going to talk about The North Water by Ian McGuire. This is a short, punchy book where the journey is worth more than the destination.
It's the mid-1800's and Patrick Sumner, disgraced British Army surgeon, has signed on to the Volunteer, a whaling vessel headed for the arctic. Also on board is Henry Drax, harpooner and sociopath. Pretty much everyone else on board has a secret or two and it's going to be a long, cold, voyage.
There's nothing extraordinary about the characters, dialoge, or plot, but the descriptive writing is so damn good. It's fun to read in your head, it's fun to say aloud, it's got mysterious new words to look up, it never slides into purple prose. It's just really good reading. It's not my usual thing, but I'm glad I picked it up. Plus, unlike most whaling novels I can think of, this one clips along and would make for great afternoon reading.
Fair warning, it's just a bunch of guys (mostly white) and there's a fair amount of (exquisitely described) violence, but if that doesn't bug you, it's worth a look.
later
Tom
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Date: 2016-08-28 05:57 pm (UTC)Sooooo, I haven't really followed too many of your reviews nor do I know if this is remotely up your alley, but I read a book recently that isn't particularly girly or anything but sort of...a bit whodunitish. It's The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. Let me know if you read it.